Augustibluus 2025 hooaja avafestival - Kevadbluus

Augustibluus 2025 season opening festival Spring Blues

The Augustibluus 2025 season opening festival Spring Blues brings four top-class bands to Viimsi Artium on April 26, offering an experience for the serious blues fan as well as any friend of good music.

Mihkel Raud Goes ZZ (EST): A unique special project of Estonias finest celebrity musicians: Mihkel Raud's grand-scale tribute to ZZ Top.

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers (USA): Multi-award-winning American guitarist and singer Tommy Castro is one of the brightest stars in today's blues scene.

Knucklebone Oscar (FIN): A legendary Finnish blues-rocker, known for his ultra-stylish and explosive live shows.

Raul & Carlos Ukareda (EST): Two generations of well-known Estonian guitarists in a more intimate format than usual.

Doors open at 5:00 PM. The concert starts at 6:00 PM.

More about the performers:

Mihkel Raud Goes ZZ (EST) 

The multi-talented Mihkel Raud is well known as a successful journalist, writer and even former politician, but above all he is a musician – an outstanding guitarist, singer and songwriter.

Mihkel has played in numerous popular Estonian bands such as Golem, Metallist, Singer Vinger, Mr. Lawrence, Lenna et al., currently acts mainly as a frontman of his own band.

In a word – Mihkel Raud is a notorious figure, there is probably no Estonian who does not know him.

But it's probably a little-known fact that his numerous activities and interests include also being a die-hard ZZ Top fan. This hidden side will now be revealed at Augustibluus with a special project consisting exclusively of ZZ Top’s music. Mihkel Raud will take Augustibluus’ visitors from Haapsalu to Texas and create a real time machine – in addition to ZZ Top's best-known hits, there will sound some early gems, some of which are almost as old as Raud himself.

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers (USA) 

“Castro is one of the brightest stars in the blues-soul genre. Voracious blues energy and ultimate soul power...impassioned vocals and pure inventiveness in his stellar guitar solos.” - Blues Music Magazine

“Soul-baring, roadhouse-meets-church, Memphis guitar licks...gritty voice...Southern colors and rootsy textures.” - Washington Post

Billboard says the band plays “irresistible contemporary blues-rock” with “street-level grit and soul.”

The staggering number of shows the band has performed together is well over 6000, including 3 seasons as house band for HBO productions “Comedy Showcase”, two summer long tours with BB King and Buddy Guy, 40 music cruises (including 33 consecutive sold out Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruises), and many of the largest music festivals worldwide. The band’s collaborations have included John Lee Hooker, Carlos Santana, Bob Weir, Gregg Allman, Dr John, Willie Nelson, Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Magic Dick of The J. Geils Band, Taj Mahal and Los Lobos.

Castro started the group after he and McDonald met in the Warner Brothers recording act the Dynatones in 1990, then in 1992 the two got together to officially form The Tommy Castro Band. With attention to the boundaries of American roots music the group began developing their signature raw and driven sound. Castro immediately gained the attention of the Bay Area Music Scene winning several local music awards before embarking on a relenting worldwide foray.

The bands lineup has changed over their 3-decade span, as has its name, adding “The Painkillers” to the billing after a long-time fan pronounced the band’s music her “painkiller”. The moniker inspired Tommy and he immediately penned the song that became the title track of the Painkiller Album and eventually the band’s new name. McDonald, along with drummer Bowen Brown and keyboardist Michael Emerson, in the current lineup have now been playing together for seven years. They have coalesced into one of the telepathically tightest units Castro has ever assembled, making them one of the most in-demand live roots music acts performing today.

Knucklebone Oscar (FIN) 

Knucklebone Oscar is Finland’s representation of pure ultra wild rock ‘n’ roll. Known for entertaining, energetic performances and guitar pyrotechniques -Oscar is a wild beast! An expressive singer and an explosive guitar player with a hard hitting band to match. The music is a mixture of Little Richard, James Brown, BB King and rockabilly with a speedy Scandinavian blues-twist.

Oscar has been finetuning his show and original rock ’n’ roll for years. Countless tours in Europe, China, Russia and in USA. Ten studio albums, a documentary movie, Finland’s representation in Blues Wold Championships in Memphis, USA. Burlesque shows, Lazer blues and sweaty gospel, Oscar has done and seen it all. A consummate Entertainer with showmanship to spare.

Raul & Carlos Ukareda (EST) 

Raul and Carlos Ukareda are a well-known father and son in the Estonian music scene who have made an important contribution to the development of domestic blues.

Raul Ukareda is one of Estonia's most famous blues guitarists. He is a founding member of the band Compromise Blue and has participated in many musical projects during his long career. Raul Ukareda is known for his virtuoso guitar playing and passionate performing style. He is also one of the organizers of Augustibluus festival.

Carlos Ukareda is a young singer, guitarist and songwriter. Carlos, who started with covers on YouTube, became more widely known as one of the finalists of the Estonian “Idol” show. Today, Carlos is a well-known figure in Estonian music, he performs on big stages with the cream of domestic and foreign musicians, and has even managed to sing a duet with LANY and Ed Sheeran. He has reached the final of Estonian Eurovision preliminaries twice and his songs are often at the top of domestic charts.